The female students at Qingyuan all say that a man should be like Professor Lin Fu of the College of Arts: a gentleman of noble character, warm as jade, like the lush green bamboo growing in the bend of the Qi River.
Qi Niang's family was poor, and from childhood she was sold by her father into the glittering, decadent world along the Huai-Xiang banks of the Qinhuai River. She was pretty enough and had a fine singing voice, so she held her pipa night after night and sang. Qi Niang had seen all the faithless men of Qinhuai and witnessed the joys and sorrows of the women who became courtesans, yet she still got lost in the beautiful dream spun by a poor scholar traveling to the capital to sit the imperial examinations. The women in the brothel all said that scholars were the most faithless of men, but Qi Niang did not believe them. She knew that Young Master Lin, who bought her medicine for a cold and recited poetry to her, was not that kind of man. So when the madam pressured her to receive a client and give herself to him, Qi Niang ruined her own face and poisoned her throat. She had no regrets, because she had waited for her Young Master Lin.
Lin Fu was killed by a drunk driver while on his way to teach at an out-of-town assignment. He reincarnated as a poor scholar in ancient times, orphaned and traveling to the capital to sit the imperial examinations. With a cheap dose of cold medicine and a few affected poems, the scholar had won the heart of a courtesan from a Qinhuai brothel. When he went to buy her freedom, he saw her slashed face, heard her hoarse voice, and met the complete trust in her eyes. He gripped the silver in his hand. He knew that this young woman had bound him to her. So, Qi Niang, Lin Fu greets you here. Let Lin Fu take care of you for the rest of your life.
Note: The male lead deeply respects women and is responsible. He truly falls in love with Qi Niang, too. Muah! (,,
Theme: Respect and cherish women.
